Labour won the West Lancashire by-election with the Tories suffering their worst result there since the constituency was created 40 years ago.
The Conservatives gained less than 30 per cent of the vote in the constituency for the first time since Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide victory.
The result will alarm Tory MPs who fear losing their seats and may prompt more to announce that they will not stand at the next General Election, expected in 2024.
Labour’s Ashley Dalton told the Conservatives “move out of the way” after she secured a 10.5 per cent swing from the Tories to win with a 8,326 majority.
She gained 14,068 votes (62.3 per cent), Conservative Mike Prendergast 5,742 (25.4 per cent), Reform UK’s Jonathan Kay 997 (4.4 per cent), the Liberal Democrats’ Jo Barton 918 (4.1 per cent), and Green Peter Cranie 646 (2.9 per cent)
She demanded a General Election, telling Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that it was time for Labour to take over.
Bitterly cold conditions on polling day and the expectation of an easy Labour hold contributed to a turnout of less than 32 per cent.
In her victory speech at Burscough Racquet and Fitness Centre, Ms Dalton, who works part-time for a local charity, said: “Tonight the people of West Lancashire constituency have spoke on behalf of the country.
“They have sent a message to this Conservative Government. They do not have confidence in them to govern or the Prime Minister to lead.
“Prime Minister, your Government has no ideas or a plan to address the big issues facing our country, like record levels of child poverty and people dying waiting for ambulances.”
“Move out of the way. Let Labour take over and it’s time for a General Election.”
The ballot was held after Rosie Cooper, who represented the constituency for 17 years, accepted the role of chairwoman of the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour, which is enjoying a significant lead in the polls against Mr Sunak’s Conservatives, was always confident of holding the seat.
It was the latest by-election test for Mr Sunak since entering Downing Street last October and comes amid a cost-of-living crisis, soaring inflation and a wave of industrial action across the UK.
New Tory chairman Greg Hands, who replaced the sacked Nadhim Zahawi this week, is charged with steering his party towards the local elections in May amid pressure on the Prime Minister to get his party in fighting shape ahead of the next General Election expected in around 18 months’ time.
By-election results need to be treated with caution as they often do not reflect what happens at subsequent General Elections.
However, the West Lancashire heavy defeat is another blow to the Tories and comes just a day after ex-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Jo Gideon, MP for the “Red Wall” seat of Stoke-on-Trent Central became the latest Conservative MPs to say they will not stand at the next General Election.
